Antenna for a signal-receiving device



Jan. 1961 R. w. CUSHING ETAI. 2,969,543

ANTENNA FOR A SIGNAL-RECEIVING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1957 ANTENNA FOR A SIGNAL-RECEIVING DEVICE Richard W. Cashing, Forest Park, and Roman Dereng, Berwyn, Ill., assignors .to Warwick Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 649,506

4 Claims. (Cl. 343-805) This invention relates to an antenna and more particularlyto an antenna for a signal-receiving device such as a portable television set -or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved antenna for a signal-receiving device.

Another object of the invention is to provide anew andimproved antenna Which may readily be adjusted to difierent operative positions or between an operative. and

may be readily adjusted to vary their lengths and Which are rotatably adjustable on a movable'mounting'member to permit alignment of the arms in a plane extending 'substantially parallel-to therear of the set so 'thatrotation of the mounting-member may carry the arms to'a position behind and adjacent the back of the set to'permit packaging or carrying of the set withouttinterference from the antenna.

'A' further object of the invention is to 'provide 'an antenna comprising a pair of antenna :arms ofwire -like materiaL'each arm being of atWo-part construction; the parts of an'arm eachhaving a spiral portionzform'edifrom a-length'thereof in which the other part slides tOEPTOVldG for adjusting the length of the arm.

-A still further object of the invention:is 'to provide :an antenna'for a portable television set comprisingyin combination, adisc-like mounting-member formedofinsulating material, means mounting said member on. the :back of the set for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to the back of the set, a pair of terminal members fastenedto the mounting member to which leadin wiresior the set may be attached, each of said terminal members vhaving a cylindrically shaped, socket .member associated therewith, and an antenna arm formedof wirelike material extending from each socketmember and having a cylindrical connector at an end mounting the .arm for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the plane in which the mounting member is moved, each arm having a bend formed therein at a location to .lieabove the top of the set andbeing of an extensible, two-part construction, whereby the arms may be positioned behind and adjacent the back of 'the television set or may be placed in operative position by rotationof the mounting member and rotation of'the arms relative to the socket members.

Theobjects of the invention generally set forth together with other ancillary'advantages are attaine.d by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a support such as a portable television set, with the antenna shown in position behind and in back of the set;

Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation similar to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, with the antenna shown in an operaited tates PatentO 2,969,543 Patented Jan. 24, 1961 'ti-ve position, and with the support for the antenna broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken "generally along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig; 4 is-a vertical section on an enlarged'scale taken generally alongthe line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an antenna arm, with parts thereof broken away.

While this-invention is susc'ept-ible of embodiment in many ditferentforms, there isshown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention with the under'standing'that the present'-disc1esure is to be-consideredas an-exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed-out in theappended claims.

The antenna is shown mounted on the back of a support 1 which may be a signal-receiving device such as a portable television set. The antenna comprises 'generally a mounting-member 2 which carries terminal members indicated generally at'3 and 4 and extensible antenna arms indicated generally at 5 and 6'.

The disc-like mounting member '2 is formed of insulating material such as wood fiber hardboard. The mounting member is mounted for rotational movement in a plane-substantially parallel to the back of the set 1 by a screw 7 which passes through' anopening =8 centrally located in themounting member.

Each'of the terminal members'3 and 4 is constructed for self-fastening to the mounting member 2. For this purpose the mounting member 2 has two-openings "associ-at'ed with each terminal member'and, as'shown in Fig. 3, has openings 9 and IO associated with the terminal member 3. The terminal memibersare made of relatively thin metal plate and are-constructed-to have some flexibility as an aid in attaching the terminaI-member to the mounting member. Eachof thetermina'l members is similar in construction, and terminal member 3, -as shown in Fig. 3, will be described-"indetail as illustrative of both members.

The terminal-rnember has a pair of fl'anges 15 and 16 at its ends and an intermediate -s'ection formedwith a flexible, 'U-shape-d bend '17 and'-acylindrically shaped socket member 18' formed by turned-up flaps 19 andZil which cooperate with a base sect-ion 21 of the terminal member. The intermediate section oftheterr'ninal memher also has a member "22 rotatablythreaded-therein to which oneend of a lead-in wire 23 maybe secured. -A similar lead-in Wire 24 may be attached to the other terminal member 4, and the lead-in wires may be connected to members 25 and'26 at the back of the set 'or lead directly into the-set.

The terminal member 3 'is mounted on the mounting member 2 by first inserting the flange 15 through the opening 10 in the mounting member andthen placing the intermediate section of the terminal memberin the opening 10. As a final step,the flange 16 of the terminal member is extended through the opening 9 of the mounting member which is permitted by the flexibility ofthe terminal member. The terininalmember 3 is then held on the mounting member 2 bythe flanges 15 and '16 engaging a back side 27 of the mounting memberZ. Although not a necessary part-of the structure, a thin, disc-like sheet 28 of insulating materialmay-be attached to the mounting member 2 'by' means of arivet 29, and an annular spacer 30 is placedaround the screw '7' tospace' the mounting member 2 from the support 1 to permit rotation of the mounting member 2 at a spaced distance from the support. The mounting member 2 is maintained in adjusted position by friction between the parts.

The antenna arms and 6 are each of a two-part construction and have inner arms 35 and outer arms 36. The inner arms are each formed with a cylindrical connector 37 at one of their ends which is rotatably mounted in the associated socket member 18. The antenna arms are thus mounted for rotation about axes which are spaced from each other and lie in a common plane extending substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the mounting member 2 about the screw 7. The inner antenna arms 35 are each also formed with a bend, as indicated at 3 8, to locate the major part of the antenna arms at a level above the top of the set 1 when the antenna is in use, as shown in Fig. 2. The relative position of inner and outer antenna arms 35 and 36 may be adjusted relative to each other to vary the overall length of the antenna arm. This is accomplished by having the inner antenna arm 38 formed with a spiral portion 40 at its outer end in which the outer antenna arm 36 is slidable. The outer antenna arm 36 has its inner end formed with a spiral portion 41 in which the inner antenna arm 35 may slide.

As shown in Fig. 1, when the signal-receiving device 1 such as a portable television set is packaged or is being transported, the mounting member 2 may be in position, and the antenna arms contracted so as to locate the antenna behind and adjacent the back of the set. When it is desired to use the antenna, the mounting member 2 may be rotated to the position of Fig. 2. The antenna arms 5 and 6 may be extended by sliding the inner and outer arms 35 and 36 through their associated spiral portions, and the antenna arms may be rotated to a desired position for receiving a particular signal by rotation of the cylindrical connectors 37 in the socket member 18. Return of the antenna to the position shown in Fig. 1 requires the rotation of the antenna arms 5 and 6 into a common plane, which is the plane of their axes of rotation and more particularly of the cylindrical connectors 37, contraction of the antenna arms 5 and 6, and rotation of the mounting member 2.

The antenna arms 5 and 6 may be formed from a wire material such as piano wire.

We claim:

1. An antenna for a portable television set comprising, in combination, a disc-like mounting member formed of insulating material, means mounting said member on the back of the set for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to the back of the set, a pair of terminal members fastened to the mounting member to which lead-in Wires for the set may be attached, each of said terminal members having a cylindrically shaped socket member formed thereon, and an antenna arm formed of wire-like material extending from each socket member and having a cylindrical connector at an end mounting the arm in a socket member for rotation about an axis extending at a small angle relative to the plane in which the mounting member is moved, each arm having a bend formed therein at a location to lie above the top of the set when the arms extend upwardly, each arm being of a two-part construction, the parts of an arm each having a spiral portion at one end formed from a length thereof in which the other part slides to provide for adjustment of the over-all length of the arm for optimum operation of the set, whereby the arms may be positioned behind and adjacent the back of the television set or may be placed in operative position by rotation of the mounting member relative to the set and rotation of the arms relative to the socket members. i

2. An antenna for a portable television set comprising, in combination, a mounting member, means for mounting said member on the back of the set for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to the back of the set, a pair of terminal members fastened to the mounting member to which lead-in wires for the set may be attached, a cylindrically shaped socket member connected to each of the terminal members, and an extensible antenna arm extending from each socket member and rotatably mounted therein, each arm having a bend formed therein at a location tolie above the top of the set when the arms extend upwardly, whereby the arms may be positioned behind and adjacent the back of the television set or may be placed in operative position by rotation of the mounting member relative to the set and rotation of the arms relative to the socket members.

3. An anenna comprising, a mounting member having means for rotatable attachment to a support surface for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to support surface, a pair of antenna arms, means pivotally mounting each of the arms at one of its ends to the mounting member for rotation about an axis, said axes being spaced and offset from each other and lying in a common plane extending substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the mounting member, each of said arms having a part of its length extending coaxially with its axis of rotation, whereby the arms maybe rotatably positioned in said common plane to permit movement of the mounting member and the arms therewith relative to the support surface without interfering therewith.

4. An antenna comprising, a disc-like mounting member having means for rotatable attachment to a support surface for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to said support surface, a pair of antenna arms,

each arm being of a two-part construction with the parts of an arm being slidably connected to each other, means mounting each of the arms at one of its ends to the mounting member for rotation about an axis, said axes being spaced and ofiset from each other and lying in a common plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the mounting member, each of said arms having a part of its length extending coaxially with said axis of rotation and the remainder thereof extending at an angle to the axis of rotation, whereby the arms may be positioned in said common plane to permit movement of the mounting member and arms without engaging the support surface between a first position in which the arms lie behind and in back of the support and a second position in which the arms extend above the support surface in positions to be extended and rotated to a desired operating position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 156,399 Baldi Dec. 13, 1949 1,307,669 Hino June 24, 1919 1,893,335 Muller Jan. 3, 1933 2,199,727 Koss May 7, 1940 2,207,084 Bowers July 9, 1940 2,259,628 Fener Oct. 21, 1941 2,278,601 Werndl Apr. 7, 1942 2,542,884 Trebules et al. Feb. 20, 1951 2,582,159 Race Jan. 8, 1952 2,753,557 Middlemark July 3, 1956 2,872,680 Stewart Feb. 3, 1959 2,895,130 Klancnjk July 14, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES JFD Tuk-A-Tenna, Technician No. 10 26, October Zaun: Abstracts of application Serial No. 64,582, published January 1952, 654 0.6. 632. 

